Report: Apple Mac OS X Mavericks Arriving Late October

Apple is expected to release OS X 10.9 Mavericks  it's next-generation Mac operating system  at the end of next month.

Apple is expected to release OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the company's next-generation Mac operating system, at the end of next month.

Cupertino is likely to stick to tradition and release the new OS the day after its fourth-quarter earnings announcement set for the second half of October, 9to5Mac reported this week, citing anonymous sources.

Apple took the wraps off of Mavericks in early June at its World Wide Developer Conference, offering a preview version to developers before the general release this fall. The last update to Mac OS XMountain Liondebuted in July, with a heavy focus on iCloud and integration with Apple's iOS-based iPhone and iPad products.

Veering away from its usual gallery of cat namesthe last run of OS X updates brought us Mountain Lion, Jaguar, and Snow LeopardMavericks was named instead after the famous big-wave surfing break near Apple's headquarters in Northern California.

So what should we expect to find in the final release of Mavericks?
For starters, the OS now includes Finder Tabs, which allow users to draw all windows togethernot to be confused with Tags, which allow for tailored files. In addition to location and name, users can add customized tags.

There is also better support for multiple displays and full-power connectivity for those with AirPlay-connected HDTVs.

Apple declined to comment on the rumors; no official launch date has been revealed.

A late-October release leaves Apple with plenty of time to court mobile users with next week's expected launch of iOS 7 and a new iPhone, perhaps with a golden touch. On Tuesday, the company released colorful press invites for a Sept. 10 event at its Cupertino headquarters. The various hues hinted at a new lineup of smartphones that finally step away from the traditional black-and-white color scheme.

The event starts at 1 p.m. Eastern and PCMag will be there, so stay tuned for all the details.

Apple also recently revealed plans to launch a lineup of new computers, including updated versions of the Mac Pro, iMac, and MacBook Pro.

Stephanie began as a PCMag reporter in May 2012. She moved to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) with a degree in journalism and mass communications.
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